With improved indoor air quality comes better health, reduced allergic reactions and respiratory diseases, and enhanced longevity of furniture and other household goods. You may wonder, how you make up your mind on the humidifier to buy for your house. Following is a list of top whole house humidifiers you can choose from.
The Best Whole-House Humidifier
1. Aprilaire 700 Humidifier
(4.3 / 5)The Aprilaire 700 is regarded by most users and reviewers as the best and most reliable whole-house humidifier. First, it is very easy to use once it is installed through your air conditioning system. Unlike other whole-house humidifiers, the Aprilaire 700 accepts does not discriminate against the type of water that is passed through it.
Additionally, this humidifier is highly fit and appropriate for those with large houses. It can serve houses that are slightly larger than even 4,000 square feet.
This humidifier is fitted into the house through an existing HVAC system and therefore relies on an already existing and perfectly working system to humidify the air in the whole house easily and efficiently.
Pros of the Aprilaire 700
- Fit for large and new houses.
- Works manually and automatically
- Low maintenance gadget
Cons of the Aprilaire 700
- Requires a professional to fix to the HVAC
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2. Essick Air AIRCARE 1201
(4.1 / 5)The Essick Air AIRCARE 1201 evaporative humidifier is a home air quality improvement gadget worth checking out. First, it is highly affordable and secondly, it does not necessarily need to be fixed with your homes HVAC system.
This Essick humidifier is appropriate for large homes and apartments of up to 3,200 square feet. It is easy to move about as it has wheels.
It has a large water reservoir and automatically shuts down when the set levels of humidity are reached or when the water reservoir is empty.
Pros of the Essick Air AIRCARE 1201
- Digital features for ease of use and accuracy in setting required humidity levels.
- Highly durable
- Requires very little maintenance.
- Highly affordable
Cons of the Essick Air AIRCARE 1201
- Requires large space for ease of operation.
- Makes loud noises. You can’t sleep with it on.
3. Honeywell HCM -6009 Whole House Humidifier
(3.6 / 5)The Honeywell HCM-6009 is developed for renters of large houses. This is because it does not need to be fixed to the HVAC system added to the fact that it has wheels on which it is easily moved from one part of the house to another.
This humidifier is loved for its large water capacity and its ability to go on and on for 24 hours. IT has two 1.5l tanks that are easily removed and returned into it. These tanks enable it to work for as long as it does.
The Honeywell is a highly manual gadget. First, it has lights that indicate when appropriate levels of humidity are reached and lets you know to shut it down. Secondly, it has three-speed levels on its fans, which are set by rotating a knob to the desired levels.
Pros of the Honeywell HCM-6009
- Noiseless working
- Easy to use
- Does not require installation.
Cons of the Honeywell HCM-6009
- Very manual in the midst of digital and automatic humidifiers.
4. Vornado Evap 40 Humidifier
(3.6 / 5)The Vornado Evap 40 is a whole-house humidifier suitable for small houses and apartments and offices. It is well known and highly rated for its perfect humidifying capabilities. The Vornado Evap 40 is known for its capabilities to reduce disease-causing bacteria and for being easy to use.
Another feature that makes it suitable for small homes is the fact that it occupies little space in the house. It is highly compact and studio occupants do not need to compromise on items to throw out of their homes to keep the Evap 40.
Pros of the Vornado Evap 40
- Two strong internal tanks that are strongly made to contain enough water.
- It’s light, small and easy to move around
- Noiseless
Cons of the Vornado Evap 40
- It is not automatic and its fans keep running even after the water in the tanks is consumed.
5. AIRCARE EP9 800 Digital Whole House Humidifier
(3.8 / 5)The AIRCARE EP9 800 is a digital whole house humidifier. Built in the US, it is capable of 60 hours of continuous running and is appropriate for homes of up to 2,400 square feet.
For its height, it is highly compact and occupies only some little space in the house. It is strong and sturdy and can hold 3.5 gallons of water.
It is a completely digital gadget with a digital humidistat that enables you to set the levels of humidity that you want. In addition, it has a digital screen, through which it displays the set humidity levels and the current humidity levels.
The AIRCARE EP9 800 is an evaporative humidifier that also comes in a range of colors for you to choose. This helps in building the aesthetics of the house as well as help keep household members healthy and other furniture in good states.
Pros of the AIRCARE EP9 800
- Nine levels of speed calibrated to its fans
- Up to 60 hours of continuous air humidification
Cons of the AIRCARE EP9 800
- Difficult to move around.
6. Honeywell Powered Flow-Through Whole House Humidifier
(3.7 / 5)The Honeywell Powered flow-Through is a high-end whole-house humidifier that serves houses as large as 4200 square feet comfortably. It is connected through the HVAC system for effective and efficient regulation of air, regardless of the size of your house.
Being a stand-alone unit, its price is currently on the higher side, although in the long term, it helps you save as it is highly energy-efficient and requires little to no maintenance. Installation is preferably conducted by a professional although highly handy people can complete on their own in a few hours.
Pros of the Honeywell Powered Flow-Through Humidifier
- It is designed to enhance efficiency and reduce the need for regular maintenance.
- Easily humidifies large houses.
Cons of the Honeywell Powered Flow-Through
- Very expensive
- Requires professional to install.
Hamilton Whole house humidifier
The Hamilton whole house humidifier is forced air, furnace mounted whole house humidifier gadget. It easily and competently creates high air quality in houses of up to 3,000 square feet. Considerably large house.
It is difficult to install and requires a professional to do it.
Its main distinguishing feature is its ability to regulate static electricity in the house. This is as a result of its highly effective humidification capabilities. Additionally, it needs an external humidistat for regulation, allowing it to perform its tasks competently to the comfort and health of the homeowners and visitors to the home.
Pros of the Hamilton whole house humidifier
- Runs on the existing HVAC system
- Affordable
- Requires little to no maintenance as a result of its uniquely designed humidifier system
Cons of the Hamilton whole house humidifier
- Requires a professional to install it thus increasing its purchasing cost
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Does the whole house need a humidifier?
There are different types of home humidifiers. There is the whole house humidifier which is connected to your house’s HVAC system while there also is a portable humidifier which you can use in a single room or area in your house that you want to humidify for example the bedroom when you sleep.
Due to different circumstances and reasons, most people are not aware of the best humidifiers to purchase for use at their homes. They, therefore, choose either or the other without sufficient information on which is better for them.
In the summer, humidity is such a bother in the house and outdoors. During winter, you will find that with less humidity due to an increased usage of the heating system, you need some humidity in the air even for proper breathing.
If all the rooms in your house are being used, which one will you choose to suffer the vagaries of lack of humidity? Poorly humidified air causes a wearing down of furniture, countertops and even pianos. It causes the rooms to be filled with allergens that cause allergic reactions and bacteria that cause respiratory system diseases. With this in mind, you will discover that your house requires a whole-house humidifier rather than a portable humidifier which when in use in one room leaves the other in need of humidity.
Benefits of a whole-house humidifier
Require little maintenance
Purchase and installation of whole house humidifiers may be expensive and a difficult decision to make. In the long run, though, whole-house humidifiers are much cheaper as they require little to no maintenance at all.
Compared to portable humidifiers which require regular changes of parts necessary for their humidification functions.
Humidify the whole house
Unlike portable humidifiers which only humidify one room at a time, whole-house humidifiers are based on the home’s HVAC system and can easily humidify the whole house. This enhances comfort and health in every room of the house at the same time.
This helps owners avoid the effects of moving from one room with proper air quality to another that is stuffy and hard to breathe in. In addition, it reduces the presence of allergens and disease-causing airborne bacteria.
Cons of the whole house humidifier
Expensive to buy and install
Acquisition of the whole house humidifier and its installation is an expensive affair. IT requires for the homeowner to contact a professional who will ensure that their humidifier fits perfectly into their existing HVAC system.
As a result, the homeowner has to incur both purchasing and installation costs.
Benefits of portable humidifiers
Affordable
Unlike whole-house humidifiers, portable humidifiers are highly affordable. Their price is friendly and they do not encumber the purchaser with installation costs.
Easy to use
Portable humidifiers are also very easy to use. They do not require any installation and are plug and play gadgets. They are simple to understand and their design ensures that anyone who needs them can use them.
Flexibility
If you are renting a house, the portable humidifier is the most appropriate for you. You do not need to install a whole-house humidifier in a house that does not belong to you. When you move, you just bundle it into your car and move away with it without much fuss.
Easy to move around
Portable humidifiers as their name suggests are quite easy to move around. They are lightweight and most models have wheels on their base to allow for ease of movement.
They occupy little space
Portable humidifiers are compact gadgets that occupy little space thus ensuring that owners have ample space for other items in the house.
Cons of portable humidifiers
Require lots of maintenance
Different parts of the portable humidifier get worn out quickly and require regular changing making them a recurrent expenditure to a household. Filters, for example, require regular changing.
Cannot humidify the whole house
Portable humidifiers are designed to humidify one room at a time and thus, their use cannot fully prevent the presence of allergens and airborne diseases causing bacteria in all rooms of the house at the same time.
Also, the air quality in different rooms will be different and thus reducing comfort levels in the house and rooms.
Use a lot of water in the long run
With their small capacity of water that they can hold, you end up using a lot of water every day compared to the whole-house humidifier that relies on the air within and outside the house. The small capacity tanks also run out of the water regularly which needs to be filled up several times a day or night of use.
What should you set your humidifier at during winter?
During winter, the air is very dry especially indoors. As a result, there is low humidity in the air due to low temperatures and thus the need for a humidifier in your house. Low humidity in the air causes difficulties in breathing and thus huge discomfort especially when you are indoors.
During winter, low humidity is signified by high levels on condensation on the windows. Low humidity causes static charges in the house, respiratory diseases and other allergic reactions. IT also cause furniture to fade, break and crack. As a result of the low humidity, the air also tends to be very dry which can easily cause nosebleeds.
Why do we need moisture in the air?
Air requires to have appropriate levels of moisture to enhance breathability and comfort. Due to the cold air outside, moisture in the air in the house. During winter the air is too dry and that is why most households require a humidifier.
Dry air is uncomfortable and leads to discomfort. Overly humid air, on the other hand, provides a conducive environment for the growth of mold and allergens leading to allergic reactions and respiratory diseases.
It is therefore of utmost importance to know how to use the humidifier properly in all seasons and weather conditions.
Factors to consider when setting your humidifier during winter
Measure your indoor humidity levels
Before you set your humidifier, it is important that you know how much humidity is in the house. Get the correct tools for the job and do not just rely on the discomfort that you are facing due to the dry winter weather.
Humidity is measured through a gadget known as a hygrometer. Use it, and you will identify the levels of humidity in your house and how you should set your humidifier.
Do you have any leaks on your walls?
During winter, it is important to ensure that you do not have any gaps or leaks on your walls. These can negate the effects of your humidifier in the house as they will cause the dry air from outside to get into the house easily.
Do you have house plants or a fish aquarium?
The house plants and the fish aquarium give off water to the surrounding environment, as a result, they enhance the humidity levels of your house and help improve air quality.
Humidifier settings during winter
Having measured the levels of humidity in the house, it is now quite easy to set the humidifier.
It’s recommended that when setting indoor humidity levels you are aware of the outdoor temperature levels. Failure to do this will lead to either over or low humidification of the house leading to all the adverse effects we are trying to avoid.
When outdoor temperatures are low, for example during winter, the humidifier should then be set lower.
30% humidity levels are the lowest that a humidifier can be set to, to ensure that the air in the house is easy to breathe and that the house is comfortable. Following the rule of the temperature, it is important to note that if the outdoor temperatures are high at 40 degrees then the humidifier should be set at 40%.
For outdoor temperatures lower than 40 degrees up to 0 degrees, the humidifier should be set at 30%. Below 0 degrees, the humidifier levels should be at 20%. When outdoor temperatures are below zero, it is important that a humidifier is present to enhance livability and health.
Are whole house humidifiers a good idea?
Whole house humidifiers are a good idea. They enhance livability, comfort, and health in the house. Whole-house humidifiers make it easy to regulate the amount of humidity in a house at the touch of a button. They eliminate the hustle and save the time taken to humidify every room in a house one at a time.
Whole-house humidifiers also are based on the already existing HVAC system. As a result, they ensure that the humidity in all parts of the house is uniform. It will not matter what part of the room one is in, you will be assured of good health and comfort wherever you are.
Whole-house humidifiers have a little maintenance cost. Once installed, whole-house humidifiers require very little changes or replacement of parts or equipment. They depend on the outdoor temperature and air passing through the HVAC vents to ensure a comfortable environment indoors and therefore have very few moving parts.
House humidifiers are highly durable and reliable in creating high-quality indoor air. Plus, they’re noiseless. They work in silence and one can sleep comfortably as they humidify the air and enhance the comfort of the house and improve the quality of sleep.
However, whole-house humidifiers have certain drawbacks. First, they are expensive to purchase and install. For one to acquire a functioning whole house humidifier in their house, they will need a steep initial outlay of investment. They will have to buy the expensive system and after that hire a professional to help them install it in their HVAC system to begin enjoying it.
Also, whole-house humidifiers are not a good idea to all. Renters for example. Unless you will eventually own the house, it is an unnecessary expense for a renter to invest in a whole-house humidifier in a house that they will never own and could possibly have to move as soon as they install the humidifier.
In conclusion
It is important for anyone who wants to acquire a whole house humidifier to look keenly into their circumstances. As a result, they can easily make a decision on the acquisition of a top whole house humidifier and at the same time consult professionals on the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of humidifiers.
With different types of finishes in the houses we live, we often notice a significant difference between the air we breathe in the house and that outside. It is for this reason that health-conscious and discerning homeowners seek out the best whole house humidifiers to improve the quality of air that they encounter inside their homes.
Whole-house humidifiers especially during winter enhance the comfort and indoor air quality and help prevent the growth of mold, presence of disease-causing airborne bacteria, allergies and respiratory diseases.
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